A Screen for Modifiers of decapentaplegic Mutant Phenotypes Identifies lilliputian, the Only Member of the Fragile-X/Burkitt's Lymphoma Family of Transcription Factors in Drosophila melanogaster

Corresponding author: Stuart J. Newfeld, Department of Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1501., newfeld{at}asu.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: C.-I WU

The decapentaplegic (dpp) gene directs numerous developmental events in Drosophila melanogaster. dpp encodes a member of the Transforming Growth Factor-ß family of secreted signaling molecules. At this time, mechanisms of dpp signaling have not yet been fully described. Therefore we conducted a genetic screen for new dpp signaling pathway components. The screen exploited a transvection-dependent dpp phenotype: heldout wings. The screen generated 30 mutations that appear to disrupt transvection at dpp. One of the mutations is a translocation with a recessive lethal breakpoint in cytological region 23C1-2. Genetic analyses identified a number of mutations allelic to this breakpoint. The 23C1-2 complementation group includes several mutations in the newly discovered gene lilliputian (lilli). lilli mutations that disrupt the transvection-dependent dpp phenotype are also dominant maternal enhancers of recessive embryonic lethal alleles of dpp and screw. lilli zygotic mutant embryos exhibit a partially ventralized phenotype similar to dpp embryonic lethal mutations. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that lilli encodes the only Drosophila member of a family of transcription factors that includes the human genes causing Fragile-X mental retardation (FMR2) and Burkitt's Lymphoma (LAF4). Taken together, the genetic and phylogenetic data suggest that lilli may be an activator of dpp expression in embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning and wing development.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Khokhar, N. Chen, J.-P. Yuan, Y. Li, G. N. Landis, G. Beaulieu, H. Kaur, and J. Tower Conditional Switches for Extracellular Matrix Patterning in Drosophila melanogaster Genetics, March 1, 2008; 178(3): 1283 - 1293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Bejarano, C. M. Luque, H. Herranz, G. Sorrosal, N. Rafel, T. T. Pham, and M. Milan A Gain-of-Function Suppressor Screen for Genes Involved in Dorsal-Ventral Boundary Formation in the Drosophila Wing Genetics, January 1, 2008; 178(1): 307 - 323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Pepple, A. E. Anderson, B. J. Frankfort, and G. Mardon A Genetic Screen in Drosophila for Genes Interacting With senseless During Neuronal Development Identifies the Importin moleskin Genetics, January 1, 2007; 175(1): 125 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. T. Takaesu, C. Hyman-Walsh, Y. Ye, R. G. Wisotzkey, M. J. Stinchfield, M. B. O'Connor, D. Wotton, and S. J. Newfeld dSno Facilitates Baboon Signaling in the Drosophila Brain by Switching the Affinity of Medea Away From Mad and Toward dSmad2 Genetics, November 1, 2006; 174(3): 1299 - 1313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. T. Takaesu, E. Herbig, D. Zhitomersky, M. B. O'Connor, and S. J. Newfeld DNA-binding domain mutations in SMAD genes yield dominant-negative proteins or a neomorphic protein that can activate WG target genes in Drosophila Development, November 1, 2005; 132(21): 4883 - 4894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. DasGupta, A. Kaykas, R. T. Moon, and N. Perrimon Functional Genomic Analysis of the Wnt-Wingless Signaling Pathway Science, May 6, 2005; 308(5723): 826 - 833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Luschnig, B. Moussian, J. Krauss, I. Desjeux, J. Perkovic, and C. Nusslein-Volhard An F1 Genetic Screen for Maternal-Effect Mutations Affecting Embryonic Pattern Formation in Drosophila melanogaster Genetics, May 1, 2004; 167(1): 325 - 342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Szuplewski, B. Kottler, and R. Terracol The Drosophila bZIP transcription factor Vrille is involved in hair and cell growth Development, August 15, 2003; 130(16): 3651 - 3662. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]